National Weather Service ordered to resume twice-daily weather balloon launches

The National Weather Service has been directed to restore weather-balloon launches every 12 hours at offices across the country, reversing a reduction that began in March 2025. At least 13 of nearly 100 launch sites were shut down or had their schedules cut amid federal cost-cutting efforts targeting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Meteorologists and former NWS leaders criticized the changes, warning that fewer observations weakened forecasting. In Michigan, gaps at sites in northern Michigan and Wisconsin may have deprived forecasters of useful information before the severe March 2025 ice storm. CBS Detroit’s chief meteorologist said he lacked the real-world observations he normally relied on, and that the storm proved worse than forecasts had indicated.

Weather balloons launched twice daily measure temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and wind direction at different altitudes. These direct observations reveal conditions throughout the atmosphere and help computer models establish an accurate picture of the weather; missing morning readings can leave important gaps. Restoring regular launches should give forecasters more complete data to track developing storms, evaluate severe-weather risks and anticipate shifts in wind, temperature and precipitation. Balloons are one part of a broader observation network, but satellites and surface readings cannot fully replace their measurements. The restored schedule is therefore expected to strengthen forecasts and provide a better basis for timely warnings that protect people and property.